Tubular coil yarn processor



July 26, 1955 P. M. COLE 2,713,784

' TUBULAR COIL YARN PROCESSOR Filed Nov. 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l Ziz'yj.

INVENTOR. Paul Morrison Cole ATTORNEY July 26, 1955 P. M. COLE 2,713,784

TUBULAR COIL YARN PROCESSOR Filed Nov. 9 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR.

Paul Morrison Cole ATTORNEY July 26, 1955 P. M. COLE 2,713,784

TUBULAR COIL YARN PROCESSOR Filed Nov. 9. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Paul Morrison Cole Mai/2%...

ATTORNEY July 26, 1955 P. M. COLE 1 2,713,784

TUBULAR COIL YARN PROCESSOR Filed Nov. 9. 1949 4 Si-ieetsSheet 4 INVENTOR PAUL MORRISON COL E BY f/MZMM ATTORNEY United States Patent TUBULAR COIL YARN PROCESSOR Paul M. Cole, Claymont, Del., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., 9. corporation of Delaware Application November 9, 1949, Serial No. 126,288

7 Claims. (til. 68-131) This invention relates to an apparatus for fluid treatment of textile fibers in the form of continuous filaments, threads, yarns, and like structures. More particularly, the invention is concerned with an apparatus for the treatment of a traveling filamentous structure by parallel flow of treating fluid and suitable for washing, desulfuring and bleaching treatmentsin a continuous process for preparing rayon from viscose.

Viscose rayons are commonly processed in the form of bobbin or bucket cakes which inherently develop uneven tensions throughout the package with the result that the yarns are non-uniform in denier, tenacity, elongation, dyeability, fatigue resistance, etc. Although yarns have been processed in a continuous manner on advancing reels, the tension that must be maintained on the yarns for even and effective advancement prevents relaxation of the yarn. Furthermore, such advancing reels are expensive to manufacture and maintain.

An alternative method for continuous treatment has been proposed in which thread is treated with fluid while passing through a long tube. In order to make this practical, the tube must be bent into some sort of coil to make the apparatus compact. Attempts have been made to use smooth-walled tubing in the shape of a simple helix, the shape obtained by winding the tubing around a cylinder, the tubing being provided with an ejector at the exit end to suck liquid and thread through the tube. With this arrangement it has been found impossible to make thread pass through the tube. The thread hugs the wall of the tube and builds up so much frictional drag that the thread piles up in the tube within the first few turns of the helix. Pulling on the thread at the exit end of the tube only makes matters worse; the thread hugs the tube wall even more tightly. Even if it were possible to pull the thread through the tube, this would be disadvantageous because it is usually desirable to treat the thread while it is either in a relaxed condition or under a predetermined controlled amount of tension at all points.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved practical apparatus employing a long, coiled passage for treating filaments, threads, yarns, and other filamentous structures with fluid in a continuous manner. Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is suitable for continuously treating filamentous structures with different fluids. A still further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is readily strung-up with yarn in starting, and which automatically transfers the yarn from one treating coil to the next with a substantially complete change of treating fluid. Other objects will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

The apparatus of this invention comprises a long, coiled passage provided with injector means adapted to continuously introduce yarn or other filamentous structure and treating fluid into one end of the passage and project the fluid through the passage at high velocity, and transfer means for separating the treating fluid from the yarn and transferring the yarn to the next operation. An

2,713,784 Patented July 26, 1955 especially useful form of the apparatus comprises a series of such coils for successively treating the yarn with different fluids, and including transfer means adapted to transfer the yarn automatically from one coil to the next in the series. Preferably, for yarn bundles of normal size, i. e., not over 2000 denier, the passage has a nonuniform shape provided by forming a tube into a coil having reverse curvatures, by making the passage wall uneven, or by forming a twisting passage into a coil, or by a combination of these. An especially desirable coil is a compound helix formed by coiling a tube modified to have a non-circular cross-section, e. g., oval, and twisted lengthwise.

The apparatus is so designed that treating fluid will completely surround the yarn during most of its travel and minimize direct contact of the yarn with the passage wall. This is accomplished by the manner in which the treating fluid is projected through the passage and by the nature of the passage. The injector means is designed to provide for forcing the treating fluid through the passage at a high velocity, well above the critical velocity for streamline flow, so that turbulent forces will be produced which will eliminate binding of the yarn in the passage. It has been found that the fluid will be effective in atice , taining this purpose if the shape of the passage is such that a taut yarn will contact the passage wall continuously for only a short distance at any place before being drawn out of contact. This is accomplished by making the coiled passage of non-uniform shape in one or more ways which include making the passage wall uneven and utilizing reverse curvatures in making the coil. Preferably a helical, undulating or twisting passage is coiled to provide a passage having compound curvatures, e. g., a compound helix. These all reduce binding of the yarn in the passage, as compared with a uniform helical tubular passage, apparently by increasing the turbulence of the fluid and by enabling it to get between the yarn and the passage Wall to completely surround the yarn during most of its travel.

In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of apparatus for the treatment of a traveling yarn with four liquids,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of an injector tube 42 and screen 45 removed for clarity,

Figs. 4 to 7 are plan views of different tube coils which may be employed in the practice of the invention,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a preferred form of tube,

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a coil formed from the tube shown in Fig 8, and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a coil formed from a tube provided with an irregular surface to enable fluid to pass between the tube surface and the yarn to prevent binding. The tube is shown partially in section.

Referring to Fig. l, a yarn 10 is drawn from a cakev or spool 11, which is mounted on a suitable support 12. i

3 Fig. 2 and will be described subsequently. Treating liquid is supplied to the injector jet through pipe 21 at sufficient pressure to provide the required velocity of How, 50 to 300 pounds per square inch being the usual range. Additional treating liquid is supplied through pipe 22 at low pressure and passes through the injector with the yarn.

The treating fluid and yarn pass into coiled tube 40. While the side of the coil shown in the figure appears to be that of a simple helix, a top view of the coil would show it to be a flattened or pinched-in oval as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It may also have other compound shapes, as will be discussed subsequently in connection with Figs. 4 to 7. The tube can vary widely in length and internal diameter but for maximum efiiciency with yarn bundles of normal size, i. e., not more than 2000 denier, tubes of about 4 inch inside diameter are preferable and good results are obtained with tubes of about 7 inch to /2 inch. It is not ordinarily desirable to use larger tubes than necessary to accommodate the yarn without binding because of the increased through-put of liquid necessary to maintain a high velocity of flow. With larger bundles of yarn, such as ropes or tows of up to 200,000 denier, the tube diameter may be increased to as much as 3 inches to accommodate the bundle. The tube may be from 5 to 200 or more feet in length, depending upon the length of treatment desired. For the sake of compactness the tube should be coiled so as to have a radius of curvature of about 3 to 6 inches at the bends. Thus a 50 foot length of tubing may be formed into a coil having from 5 to 30 complete loops.

The exit end of tube 40 extends into a connector device 41 which separates the treating liquid from the yarn and automatically transfers the yarn into a second coiled tube 63. This device is shown in detail in Fig. 3 and will be described subsequently. Separated treating liquid emerges from the device through pipe 42 and may be recirculated to the injector 20. A second treating liquid is supplied to the connector device at high pressure through pipe 43, and additional treating liquid may be supplied at low pressure through pipe 44. The yarn and treating liquid pass through tube 63, which is coiled in a similar manner to tube 40. Tube 63 is connected with a third coiled tube 65 by a device 64 which is identical in all respects with connector device 41. Coiled tube 65 connects in turn with a fourth coiled tube 67 through a connecting device 66, which is again identical with device 41.

This last tube 67 discharges into a tank 70 through a larger bent tube 71 which serves to reduce the velocity of the liquid flowing out of the tube. Tank 70 is provided with an overflow pipe 72 through which the liquid may pass to the sewer or be recirculated to coil 67. The transfer device following this last coiled tube 67 comprises a guide Wheel 73 in tank 70 and a second guide wheel 74 outsied of the tank to direct the yarn to the next operation, here shown as a wind-up machine 80. If automatic transfer were desired the tank 70, bent tube 71, overflow pipe 72 and guide wheel 73 would be replaced by a device embodying the construction of the separating and transfer features of the connector device 41, the injector portion of the latter being omitted.

The wind-up machine 80 is of conventional construction and, since it forms no part of the present invention, will not be described. The yarn could also pass to other operations before being collected, such as a dryer or a staple cutter. It is also obvious that the yarn to be treated need not come from the cake or spool 11 shown; the yarn could come directly from'the spinning operation without intermediate winding.

The coils are shown supported by platforms 90 attached to a column 91. The particular arrangement shown is merely a convenient one; the coils could be all supported at the same level in any convenient manner. The number of coils used depends, of course, on the operations to be performed. The four coils shown are suitable for performing the operations of desulfurizing, bleaching,

and washing. For desulfurizing, a dilute alkaline solution of sodium sulfide would be introduced into coiled tube 40 by means of injector 20. Water would be introduced into tube 63 by means of device 41 to wash the yarn. A solution of sodium hypochlorite would be introduced into tube 65 to bleach the yarn. Finally, the yarn would be washed again in the last coiled tube 67.

Injector 20 is shown in detail in Fig. 2. It comprises a reservoir chamber 23 from the lower part of which a funnel-shaped opening 24 connects with a small tube 25 extending about A; to inch inside of a larger tube 26 and forming therewith an annular orifice through which high pressure liquid is forced to provide the injector action. Tube 25 need only be large enough to accommodate the yarn to be treated. Tube 26 must be enough larger to provide the required size of annular orifice for the desired rate of flow. Tube 26 is screwed into a cylindrical hole in block 27 so that the block forms an annular chamber at the end of the tube which communicates with the annular orifice. The other end of tube 26 is connected with tube 40. The small tube 25 is held in proper position by a block 28 fitting into the hole in larger block 27. Block 28 is hollowed to provide the funnelshaped opening 24, previously mentioned, into the small end of which the tube 25 is secured, as by brazing. Pipe 21. is screwed into the block 27 and communicates with the annular chamber at the end of tube 26 to supply high pressure liquid.

Reservoir chamber 23 is formed by securing a section of large tube 29, about 2 to 3 inches in both length and diameter, between end pieces 30 and 31 by means of bolts 32 passing through holes in end piece 31 and screwing into threaded holes in end piece 30. Block 27 is secured to the opposite face of end piece 30 by an annular ring 33 which engages projections on block 27, the ring being held by bolts 34 screwing into end piece 30. A conical opening through end piece 30 connects the funnel-shaped opening 24 in block 28 with the lower part of chamber 23. End piece 31 is provided with an opening 35 into the upper part of chamber 23, through which the yarn passes into the chamber. Pipe 22 is screwed into a threaded opening in end piece 31, which communicates with the lower part of chamber 23.

In operation treating liquid is supplied through pipe 22 at a rate which will maintain a pool in the chamber above the level of the funnel-shaped opening 24. Yarn enters the chamber through opening 35 and is carried T. out of the chamber through opening 24 with liquid from the pool. Treating liquid supplied under pressure through pipe 21 travels at high velocity through the annular orifice formed between tubes 25 and 26. This creates a low pressure at the end of tube 25 which sucks the yarn and treating liquid from the chamber 23 through tube 25 and into tube 26. A part of the kinetic energy of the high velocity stream emerging from the annular orifice is reconverted to pressure in tube 26 and at the end of tube 40, and serves to drive the liquid through coiled tube 40 at the necessary velocity to prevent the yarn from binding in the coil. The liquid and yarn then emerge from the opposite end of tube 40 into connector device 41.

Connector device 41 is shown in detail in Fig. 3. In principle this device is the injector 20 of Fig. 2 with the addition of means for continuously introducing the yarn into the reservoir chamber in a high velocity fluid stream, separating the yarn from the fluid stream and then conducting the fluid out of the chamber and away. This comprises the addition of an inlet tube 40 to carry the yarn and fluid stream into the upper part of the chamber and a separator tube 42 to catch the fluid stream as it leaves the inlet tube 40 and conduct the fluid away from the chamber, the end of the separator tube being covered with a screen 45 set on an angle to deflect the yarn out of the fluid stream and toward the injector opening during automatic string-up. The device 41 is illustrated as a connector between coiled tube 40 and the next coiled tube 63, the exit end of tube 40 being, in this case, the inlet tube mentioned above.

As in the case of injector 20, a small tube 46, having an inside diameter sufficient to accommodate the yarn without binding, extends a short distance inside of a larger tube 47 to form therewith an annular orifice through which liquid supplied by pipe 43 is forced at high velocity. Tube 47 is screwed into block 48 and tube 46 is brazed into the small end of a funnel-shaped opening in block 49, which is in turn supported in a cavity in the opposite end of block 48 from the tube 47. Tube 47 is connected to the next coiled tube 63 of the series. The funnelshaped opening in block 49 opens into a chamber 50 formed by a section of large tube 51 held between end pieces 52 and 53 by bolts 54. An opening in end piece 53 accommodates the inlet tube 40. An opening direct- 1y opposite in end piece 52 accommodates the end of tube 42, which is approximately twice the diameter of cent of the total water discharged from tube 40 for the various conditions shown. In cases of 100% discharge into tube 42, the amount of water deflected by screen 45 into chamber 40 was of the order of 3 or 4 drops out of 20 pounds of water passing through the screen into tube 42, and was too small to consider. In the table, tube angle refers to the angle of the axis of tube 40 with the axis of tube 42, and screen angle refers to the angle of the screen with the axis of tube 42. The tests show that a high efficiency of separation of yarn from liquid is possible with a considerable variation in conditions. The most satisfactory results were obtained with a screen of 0.011 inch Wire and 18 x 14 mesh mounted at a 40 angle, when treating yarn ranging in size from 550 denier to 1650 denier. The separator will function in any position, but the horizontal position described is preferred for the present purpose because of its better adaptability to space requirements.

TABLE I Tube Diameter in Inches Tube Water Screen W Percent D is zh i e Test Angle, Velocity, Angle, Screen Material Size, Mesh sum into g v Degrees FtJMin. Degrees Inch p g Tube 42 Tube 42 Tube 40 1 2% 6 M 0 275 59 Saran 008 36 50. 8 80. 5 1%; 1 0 275 45 Stainless Steel. 018 14 55. 1 84. 6 15 ag 5 380 Brass 012 16 65. 3 98. 7 5 380 48 Nylon 008 64. 1 97. 9 A 5 j 275 46 Stainless Steel-.. 009 73. 3 99. 4 A 0 275 59 Brass 011 18 x 14 67. 9 100. 0 9g 1 6 0 275 47 Galvanized Iron 009 67. 2 99. 8 0 380 59 Brass 011 18 X 14 67. 9 100. 0

tube and is" located in approximate axial alignment so as to catch the stream of liquid emerging from tube 40. Tube 42 is held in place by a plate which presses a packing ring 56 into a groove in tube 42 and against end piece 52. Plate 55' is drawn against end piece 52 by bolts 57 screwing into the latter. Plate 55 also engages projections on block. 48 to hold the injector assembly against end piece 52 below tube 42. The opening through end piece 52 which connects with the funnel-shaped opening in block 49 is at the lower part of chamber 50 directly below the end of tube 42. The end of the tube is cut at a 40 angle toward this opening and is covered with a screen 45, ordinary screen wire of the type used in windows being: suitable. With this arrangement liquid emerging from tube 40 passes through the screen into the larger tube 42 and is carried away. Yarn, traveling with the liquid through tube 40,. cannot get. through the screen and is deflected downward toward the opening into the injector during automatic string-up. Liquid to be used in treating the yarn during passage through next coiled tube 63 is supplied to chamber 50 through pipe 44. This pipe is connected to the end of a passageway 58 in end piece 52 by nipple 59, which is screwed into the passageway, and union 60, which joins the nipple and pipe. Although the whole of passageway 58 is not visible in this view, it communicates with chamber 50 at a point below screen 45 as shown in Fig. 3A.

Liquid is supplied through pipe 44 at a rate which will maintain a pool in chamber 50. The level of the pool should be below the lowest point of the screen. Treating liquid supplied at high pressure through pipe 43 passes through the annular orifice formed by tubes 46 and 47 at high velocity, which causes yarn and liquid to be sucked out of chamber 56 through tube 46 and be carried through tube 47 into coiled tube 63. The high velocity stream entering through the annular orifice and the stream entering through tube 46 exchange momentum, and part of the kinetic energy of the high velocity stream is reconverted to pressure head which drives the liquid through the coiled tube 63.

The eifectiveness of the separator in carrying off water discharged from tube 40 is shown in Table I. The weight of water discharged into tube 42 was determined as a per A certain amount of treating liquid will be carried by the yarn to the next treatment. This can be minimized by providing for the outlet lips of coiled tubes 40, 63 and 65 to wipe the yarn as it leaves tube 40. The discharge end of the tube is slotted on the underside and the slot is fitted with resilient lips 61 (Fig. 3A). During string-up the yarn discharges against the screen. After the yarn is picked up and the slack eliminated, the yarn is pulled into the slot. The resilient lips 61 of the slot then wipe the yarn as it leaves the tube to go to the next coil as shown in Fig. 3A.

The shape to which the treating tubes are coiled is important to the successful operation of the apparatus. Suitable shapes are shown in Figs. 4 to 7. The one shown in Fig. 4 may be described as a straight-sided oval or, more exactly, as an oblong with semicircular ends and parallel straight sides. A more effective shape is provided by bending the sides of the oval inwardly to provide reverse curvatures, as shown in Fig. 5. Another method for providing reverse curvatures is to bend the tube into the shape of the figure 8, as shown in Fig. 6. The reverse curvatures prevent the yarn passing therethrough from continually contacting the wall of the tube, increases the turbulence of the fluid and enables the fluid to surround the yarn and prevent it from binding on the tube wall during its travel.

The fluid can be caused to swirl around the yarn, which is even more effective in preventing the yarn from binding against the wall, by bending the tube into a long, open helix of small diameter having, for example, a pitch of 2 to '10 inches, which helix is then wound into a coil of larger diameter, as shown in Fig. 7. This shape can be achieved by' twisting the tube around a taut straight wire and then forming the combination into a coil. Two coils can be made simultaneously by twisting two lengths of tubing about each other and then forming both together into a coil shape. The shape of the coil formed from the small diameter helix may be the compound helix shown in Fig. 7, or it may be one of the shapes shown in Figs. 4 to 6.

A preferred method of making the fluid swirl around the yarn is by twisting a tube having a non-circular crosssection lengthwise about its axis, to provide a spiral suggestive of the rifling of a gun, and then coiling the tube. A non-circular cross-section can be provided by indenting one or more creases down the length of a metal tube, or by partially flattening the tube to an oval shape. A suitable tube would have an oval cross-section, approximating 0.200 x 0.284 inch, and be twisted approximately three turns per foot, as shown in Fig. 8. The twisted tube may be coiled to any of the forms described, such as a helix 6 to 12 inches in diameter as illustrated in Fig. 9. Not only is this type of coil highly effective for processing yarn, but the formation of a compound helix by merely flattening, twisting, and then coiling metal tubing is the most practical fabrication technique discovered.

The tubing used for the coil should not be too smooth. Ordinary glass and plastic tubing are less desirable than other materials for this reason. Metal or plastic tubing can be improved by pressing irregularities into the outside surface to form irregularities in the inner surface. The tubing may also be made uneven by corrugating or sandblasting. Elastomeric tubing made with an irregular or bumpy internal surface is among the best. A desirable type of tube can be produced by mixing particles of vulcanized rubber into a batch of unvulcanized rubber to be used in making the tube, or by mixing high and low molecular weight polymeric material, which will produce distortion as the tube is extruded. The tube can also be distorted or made uneven by applying an irregular outer cover prior to vulcanization, or by an irregular curing mold. In some cases a wrinkled surface can be produced by swelling the surface of the rubber with a solvent, such as benzene, before the rubber is vulcanized. Other methods for producing suitable irregular wall surfaces will readily occur to one skilled in the art. Such wall surfaces of the type illustrated in Fig. offer reduced resistance to movement of yarns, apparently because they enable the fluid to get between the yarn and the wall to prevent binding.

The apparatus disclosed will operate effectively only when the velocity of the treating fluid is suflicient to provide forces which will keep the yarn from binding in the diameters of tubes 25 and 26 (Fig. 2), supplying liquid at the proper pressure through pipe 21, and controlling the speed of motor pulley 16 (Fig. 1) to pass the yarn through the tube ata speed which is in proper relation to the liquid velocity, tension on the yarn during its travel through coiled tube 40 can be completely eliminated or held to some desired low tension value.

For a given yarn velocity the performance of most coil forms tends to improve as the liquid velocity is increased up to an optimum of approximately of the input yarn velocity, and then drops off between 85% and of yarn velocity. The optimum depends upon the coil form used and other conditions. The performance will generally be adequate with liquid velocities below 85% of the input yarn velocity, provided the velocity is well in excess of the critical velocity for streamline flow. Yarn has been handled satisfactorily at input velocities varying from 250 to 5650 feet per minute. In general, the higher the yarn velocity the greater the ease of operation and the lower can be the ratio of liquid velocity to yarn velocity before unsatisfactory operating conditions are encountered. All yarns experimented with performed satisfactorily at input velocities of 250 feet per minute or higher when good tube material and coil formations, providing a non-uniform shape of passage, were employed.

Table II gives some specific data developed in the washing of viscose rayon yarn, some twisted and some untwisted, in coils of different lengths with widely varying conditions of water pressure and flow. The yarn was taken up on a winder spindle driven by a constant torque motor so that fluctuations in delivery indicating non-uniform treatment could be observed. In all of these tests the yarn action was good and, except in the first test, the wind-up was steady. In Example 4 the coil was a simple helix. In all the others the coil shape was the oval having inwardly bent sides described in connection with Fig. 5. Under the heading Injector dimensions, D refers to the inside diameter of tube 26 (Fig. 2), D is the outside diameter of tube 25, d is the inside passages. The velocity of liquid flow should be well diameter of tube 25, and L is the distance tube 25 pro above the critical velocity for streamline flow. For rer s nto tu e 26.

TABLE II Injector Dimensions Water Yarn Yarn EX No $1136 22 33 Coil Dlamg ggg Velocity, Speed, Inc as Yarn, Twist, fi' i eter,Inehes S In Inches/ Inches/ Denier Turns/ Minute Minute D D1 d L Inch 54 100 12 64 3, 470 3, 000 203 163 128 /64 900 214 24 50 6 128 7, 860 a, 000 135 126 094 44 900 214 24 21. 2 6 a, 010 3, 000 135 126 094 46 1, 650 0 24 21. 2 12 175 3, 570 3, 000 134 126 094 at 1, 650 0 24 50 6 65 2, 550 5, 650 135 126 094 99 1, 650 0 24 71. 2 6 4, 080 5, 650 126 094 /6 1, 650 0 24 101. 7 6 10 5, 420 5, 650 135 126 094 it 1, 650 0 24 30. 5 6 s5 4, 280 5, 650 135 126 094 96 1, 650 0 laxed processing, the lnput yarn velocity should be 1n ex- Example 9 cess of the liquid velocity in the tube. In this case the condition which prevails in the coiled tube is such that the linear velocity of any point of yarn in the tube is substantially the same as the water velocity at that point. The yarn, however, is in an undulated disposition so that the number of feet per minute of yarn passing a given section of the tube exceeds the linear velocity of any point on the yarn and also exceeds the water velocity through that same tube section. When tension is desired for processing purposes, the desired amount of tension is supplied at all points by having the liquid velocity in the tube greater than the input yarn velocity by a controlled amount. In either case the liquid velocity in the annular orifice of injector 20 must exceed the input yarn velocity.

The velocity of the fluid through the tube is determined by the dimensions of the injector parts, the pressure at which fluid is supplied to the injector and the diameter and length of the tube. By suitably selecting the In another trial 1100 denier viscose rayon yarn with 2.5 turns per inch of twist was washed acid free in two 50-foot coiled tubes at a yarn speed of 275 feet per minute and a mean water velocity through the tubes of approximately 219 feet per minute.

The apparatus of this invention can also be used for gaseous treatment of yarn and the like. Table III gives data obtained in removing water from nylon and viscose rayon yarns using preheated air or unheated air with the tubular coil submerged in a hot oil bath, or a combination of both methods of heating. In Example 10 the yarn was /2 twist, 210 denier nylon. In Example 11 the yarn was /2 twist, denier nylon. In all other cases the yarn was 0 twist, 150 denier viscose rayon.

In each run the yarn sample was accurately weighed in the room dry state. It was then passed through a water bath and rewound. The increase in weight was measured,

and the yarn was then supplied to the tubular dryer at a controlled rate. The yarn leaving the dryer was again wound into a package and rs-weighed to determine the amount of moisture removed. A A1. inch inside diameter part of said chamber with a small exit tube of suflhcient size to accommodate the filamentous structure to be treated, said tube extending a short distance inside of the end of a larger tube and forming therewith an anmetal tube was employed in all tests, and the air flow 5 nular orifice, the opposite end of said larger tube being was determined to be approximately one cubic foot connected to a long, coiled tube; an annular chamber surper minute. The data show that twist, 150 denier visrounding said small tube and communicating with said cose yarn with 190% added water can have all of the annular orifice; means for supplying treating fluid under water removed in a 10-foot length of coiled tubing when pressure to said annular chamber; means for supplying the yarn speed is 300 feet per minute and there is no pre- 1() treating fluid to said reservoir chamber; and means for heating of the air. continuously introducing a filamentous structure to be TABLE III Weight Temperature Tempera- 7 Ex. NO. 3533 3; gggg ggtg giihjiii iii gg ggg L iig t h, :vili l lv esilggggf Tube o F.) End (0F?) Feet emoval .818 Not Meas. 180 20 101 .897 Not Heated 123 20 98 1. 33 Not Meas 175 20 102 1. 40 Not Heated-.. 160 6 102 1.76 130 105 6 80 1. 79 im 125 6 88 1.82 Not Meas 250 10 101 1. 91 Not Heated..- 162 10 97. 1. 87 .do 192 93. 5 1. 92 do 200 102 The coil shapes discussed are merely illustrative of treated into said reservoir chamber to pass with treating workable shapes. As indicated by Example 4, a simple fluid through said funnel-shaped opening, through said helical coil of tubing having a circular cross-section can exit tube and through said coiled tube. be used satisfactorily with yarn bundles of normal size 2. An apparatus for treating filamentous structures under certain conditions. This is especially true if the with fluid which comprises a reservoir chamber for yarn is twisted, the tube has a suitably uneven surface, treating fluid; a funnel-shaped opening connecting the the injector is of optimum design, the fluid velocity is at lower part of said chamber with a small exit tube of substantially 85% of input yarn velocity, and the length suflicient size to accommodate the filamentous strucof tube and number of turns are not excessive. This is ture to be treated, said tube extending a short distance also the case with large bundles of filaments, such as inside of the end of a larger tube and forming therewith staple tow, which may have a total denier of from 55,000 an annular orifice, the opposite end of said larger tube to 230,000 denier. In such cases large tubing of from being connected to along, coiled tube; an annular chaml to 3 inches may be used and may be operated only partber surrounding said small tube and communicating with ly full of liquid to facilitate removal of vapor, such as aid annular orifice; means for supplying treating fluid carbon bisulfide. Tows of 167,000 and 226,800 denier under pressure to said annular chamber; means for sup- Wefe tested at all input tow speed of 100 yards p plying treating fluid to said reservoir chamber; and minute with 2 and 2 /2 inch inside diameter rubber hoses means f continuously i d i a fila to m Coiled to an aPPYOXimate 31/?- feet inside diameter heliX- ture to be treated into said reservoir chamber to pass The performance was satisfactory with both cold and with treating fl id through Said f L h d opening, near boiling water- A hose length of feet with a through said exit tube and through said coiled tube, total drop in level of 3 feet was satisfactory with flow comprising an inlet tube projecting into the upper Part rates fmm to 15 gallons h length of of said reservoir chamber, means for continuously intro- 167000 denier tow m the 21/2 mch mslfiie dlameter tube ducing the filamentous structure through said inlet tube Y measured and W to be 90 feet wlth a flow rate a in a high velocity fluid stream, and a separator tube in gallium 3. i approximate alignment with said inlet tube adapted to lnvemlon especlaily Sulted to i catch said fluid stream and conduct it away from said desuhurmg bleachmig relaxing and/or.stretchmg. of reservoir chamber, the end of said separator tube being cose rayonahhough i may also be usedmponnecnop wlth covered with a screen set at an angle to deflect said Schism W drying heat treatment. lmpregnatlon or do filamentous structure out of said fluid stream toward the other mod fication oi yarns, or the like. It has been lower part of said reservoir chamben @g 2 3 to m wet,pmcess travelmgyams 3. An apparatus for treating filamentous structures 9 fi {i slbsmmal l cogtmuous with fluid which comprises a reservoir chamber for treat- Operaflon e yarn 0 tenslon or .1111 f ing fluid, a small exit tube of sufficient size to accommotrolled tension is made possible. Automatic string-up 6) d th fil b d t of the yarn at the first and any subsequent coils of a ate e arlnemous i; egreateucorgmumcadseries is provided, with substantially complete replacei wlth the ()Wer palit ig c i m e i ment of treating fluids between coils. The apparatus mg a,short dlstfmce msl e t 6 0 a arger i e can be made at low cost, and the operating and mainteformfng therewlth 21111111181: Orifice, a long coiled tube nance costs are low. The equipment is fully enclosed so an exfemloll of sald larger tube means for that air-conditioning of the room is not necessary. suPplymg treatmg flu1d under pfessurfi to Sa,1d annular AS many apparently Widely different embodiments of orifice, means for supplying treating fluid to said reservoir this invention may be made without departing f the chamber, and means for introducing a filamentous strucspirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the ture to be treated into 531d resefvoll chambfl t0 P invention is not limited to the specific illustrations given 7 0 with treating flu through said exit tube and through except as defined in the appended claims. a d Coiled t Wh t i l i d i 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said 1. An apparatus for treating filamentous structures coiled tube is in the form of a coil having a plurality with fluid which comprises a reservoir chamber for treatof reverse curvatures so that a taut filamentous strucing fluid; a funnel-shaped opening connecting the lower ture will contact the tube wall for only a short distance 1 1 at any place before being drawn out of contact with the surface.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said coil has the shape of a compound helix.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said coiled tube has a flattened cross-section and has been twisted lengthwise prior to coiling so that the resulting coil formation is a compound helix.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said coiled tube has an irregular inner surface so that reduced resistance to passage of the filamentous structure results from fluid flowing between the structure and the tube surface to prevent binding.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Palmer Mar. 27, 1906 Palmer Feb. 28, 1911 Lyth Ian. 10, 1922 Walton et a1 Aug. 9, 1932 Nai Sept. 27, 1938 Dursteler June 11, 1940 Lovett June 11, 1940 Ufnowski Mar. 2, 1943 MacLaurin Aug. 10, 1943 Cole Mar. 13, 1945 Wentz Jan. 25, 1949 Naumann July 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Mar. 1, 1949 

